Information Publication Scheme (IPS) Agency Plan

Our Department is subject to the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and is required to comply with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) requirements.

This agency plan describes how we propose to do this, as required by s 8(1) of the
FOI Act.

This plan describes how we propose to implement and administer the IPS in respect of its information holdings, by addressing:

establishing and administering our IPS entry

information architecture

information required to be published

other information to be published

IPS compliance review.

We will continue to build and foster a culture within the agency, in which appropriate proactive disclosure of its information holdings is embraced, leading to successful implementation and administration of its IPS entry. This is in recognition that public sector information is a national resource managed for public purposes.

Purpose

The purpose of the agency plan is to:

assist us in planning and developing its contribution to the IPS

facilitate public consultation about that contribution

show what information the agency proposes to publish, how and to whom the information will be published and how we will otherwise comply with the IPS requirements (s 8(1)).

Objectives

Our objectives in this plan are to outline the mechanisms and procedures to:

manage the IPS information holdings

proactively identify and publish all information required to be published (s 8(2))

proactively identify and publish any optional information to be published (s 8(4))

review and ensure on a regular basis that information published under the IPS is accurate, up to date and complete (s 8B)

ensure that the information published under the IPS is discoverable, understandable, machine-readable, re-useable, and transformable

reduce the number of formal requests under the FOI Act by making information that is routinely sought readily available and accessible.

Establishing and administering the IPS

The Assistant Secretary, Access to Information (ATI), with the support of the FOI Section has responsibility for the IPS. The ATI branch is responsible for reviewing and revising this plan.

Web Operations staff in liaison with the ATI branch are responsible for publishing the online content in accordance with government standards. Our IPS entry will be maintained through our web guidelines processes and procedures.

We will adhere to section 11C of the
FOI Act by publishing decisions and documents released under FOI taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner.

We might impose charges for accessing information published under the IPS where a request for a document(s) is considered voluminous. Charges will be consistent with charge in the Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 1982.

Currently these include:

Administrative charges

Activity item

Charge

Search and retrieval: time we spend searching for or retrieving a document

$15 per hour

Decision making: time we spend in deciding to grant or refuse a request, including examining documents, consulting with other parties, and making deletions

First five hours: Nil

Transcript: preparing a transcript from a sound recording, shorthand or similar medium

Subsequent hours: $20 per hour

Photocopy

$4.40 per page of transcript

Inspection: supervision by an agency officer of your inspection of documents or hearing or viewing an audio or visual recording at our premises

$0.10 per page

Delivery: sending or delivering a copy of a document at your request

$6.25 per half hour (or part thereof)

Search and retrieval: time we spend searching for or retrieving a document

Cost of postage or delivery

IPS Information Architecture

The
Freedom of Information page on our website is the main entry point through which members of the public can access IPS content.

The IPS entry will be published on the website under the following headings:

Required Information

Agency plan

Who we areThis will include information about us, our organisation chart, the Enterprise Agreement and information about statutory appointments. For statutory appointees, we will publish the name of the person appointed, the length or term of appointment, the position to which the person is appointed (and particulars of the position) and the provision of the Act under which the person is appointed.

What we doThis will include information about our functions and powers, the rules, guidelines, practices and precedents relating to those functions and powers.

Routinely requested information and FOI disclosure logThis will include information in documents to which we routinely gives access in response to FOI requests and information published under s 11C of the FOI Act.

Consultation arrangementsThis will include information about how and to whom a comment may be submitted by members of the public, where we undertake public consultation on specific discussion papers for which the agency is responsible.

Contact usInformation provided will include an email address for this purpose. This will not change with staff movements.

Other information required to be published

We will publish on the IPS section of its website other information that it holds (in addition to the information published under s 8(2)), taking into account the objects of the
FOI Act (s 8(4)).

We will publish as much information as possible to comply with the
FOI Act and in the interests of full disclosure. Other information will be published under the following headings:

Other information

Our priorities This will include corporate and strategic plans, assessments and reviews.

Our finances This will include financial information relating to pay and grading structures, procurement procedures, tendering and contracts.

Our lists This will include the agency grants and appointments, and links to data sets.

Our submissions This will include submissions made. We publish information about our submissions to parliamentary committees and other inquiries.

Our policies This will include relevant departmental corporate policies.

IPS compliance review

We will review the operation of the IPS annually and update its plan as required. Online information, in all formats, is regularly reviewed for currency and accuracy. Outdated information is replaced and archived.

Our objective is to ensure transparency and openness with the public in its decision-making processes. We will ensure that comments made by the public, in relation to this Agency Plan will be taken into account and the plan amended as appropriate.